Dental Tape as an Alternative to Floss

Posted October 7, 2015.

Dental tape is a relatively new product to appear on the landscape of oral hygiene products.

Dental tape is similar to floss in many ways. It is essentially a wide ribbon made of woven nylon threads. It comes in waxed and unwaxed varieties, as well as several different flavors. There are a few brands that have earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Since dental tape is thinner than traditional, nylon dental floss, some people prefer the tape. This is especially true for people who have tightly fitting teeth or have struggled in the past with snapping floss into their gums.

There are some people with braces or bridges that prefer dental tape because it fits between their dental work easier and is more flexible for hard-to-reach areas.

You use dental tape in much the same way that you would use dental floss with a few minor exceptions: When working with dental floss, you spool about 18 inches around your index finger. Spooling dental tape can compress the tape into a strand with irregular texture.

When you spool out the next section, you might need to flatten or stretch out the tape to return it to the original flat shape. Some people might find this to be tedious. In that case you might want to try spooling out multiple smaller strands that are about 10 to 12 inches long.

Whether you choose to use floss or dental tape is a matter of personal preference. Finding the one that is right for you will go a long way toward motivating you to include flossing in your daily oral hygiene regimen.

If you have questions about floss or dental tape, please feel free to call us at 703-858-5990 or ask about it at your next appointment. We look forward to seeing you again!